Pressing machine



G. w. JOHNSON PRESSING MACHINE Dec. 24, 1935.

Filed July 18, 1954 FIG.-

INVENTOR GEORGE W. JOHNSON NEYS Patented Dec. 24, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PRESSING MACHINE Application July 18, 1934, Serial No. 735,799

8 Claims.

This invention relates to pressing machines of the type used in garment and laundry work and particularly to a machine adapted to produce pressing action simultaneously along two sur- 5 faces located at a substantial angle to each other.

An object of the invention is to provide a pressing machine having a pair of pressing members provided with central pressing portions and co- 1 acting side portions which coact in a plane gen- 10 erally at an angle to the meeting plane of the central portions. The invention provides means for moving the central portions into pressing engagement and means for moving the side portions into pressing engagement, together with one actuator for both means.

The invention provides also mechanism for moving the central pressing portions into pressing engagement, this mechanism having a lost motion connection permitting an additional movement beyond the point causing pressure engagement between the central portions, this additional movement being effective to move the side pressing portions into engagement.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the accompanying description taken together with the drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a side elel vation of a pressing machine embodying my invention, partly broken away the better to show the construction, the parts are shown in open position in full line, and in dot-dash lines the parts are shown with the central portions in pressure engagement and before the side portions are moved into coacting position; Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing the press completely closed; while Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmental section taken transversely of the bed and head, showing the details of construction.

The press illustrated comprises a frame I on which is mounted a pedestal Il which supports 40 abcd I2. Anupstanding bracket I3 on the frame pivotally supports a head lever I 4 which carries a pressing head I5 adapted to coact with the bed I2. The head is provided with a central pressing portion I6 and depending side portions I'l ex- ,f 45 tending at a considerable angle to the general of central portions of somewhat greater area than the side portions.

Means is provided for moving the head toward and away from the bed, which comprises a double toggle mechanism, one set of toggles compris- 5 ing the members I8 and I9 extending between the frame IU and the rear end of the head lever. The connection between member I8 and the head 1ever comprises a reduced portion 2li on the toggle le which has an operative engagement with a ro- 10 tatable pin 2l in the head lever. A spring 22 surrounds the reduced portion 2i) in a position adapted to be compressed between a shoulder 23 on the toggle I8 and the head lever I4, thus exerting yielding pressure against the rear end of the head lever when the toggles are moved t0 straightened position so that after the head moves to the dot-dash position of Fig. 1 to exert pressure between the coacting central portions of the pressing members the toggle mechanism is movable farther to the straightened position of Fig. 2., which advances the reduced portion of toggle I8 through the coacting pin 2| on the head lever which at the same time takes up somewhat on the spring 22. This additional movement is utilized to move the coacting side pressing portions into pressing engagement, as will be later described. The means provided for straightening the toggle mechanism Iii-I9 comprises a second toggle mechanism comprising link 24 pivotally connected at one end to the first described toggle mechanism and at its other end connected to a lever 25 pivotally supported at 26 on the frame. The lever 25 in turn is connected by a link 21 to a treadle 28 which is pivotally mounted at the rear of the frame, thus pressure downwardly on treadle 28 by the operator moves lever 25 in a counterclockwise direction about its pivot thus moving the toggle mechanisms toward straightened position. f

The bed construction is more clearly seen in Fig. 3 and comprises a central portion 29 adapted to coact with the central portion I6 of the head and side portions 3@ each adapted to coact with one of the side portions Il of the head. Common cover means encloses the side and central portions of the bed, that shown comprising a spring padding 3i and a cover cloth 32. The side portions of the bed are mounted for lateral movement relative to the central portion thereof, 50 the particular structure shown comprising bell lcrank members 33 pivotally supported at 34 on the central portion of the bed and having a downwardly extending arm connected with the side portions of the bed While the inwardly extending arm of the bell crank has a slotted connection at 35 with a pin 3S which in turn is carried by a rod 31 connected at its lower end With a bracket 38 on the treadle 28. A spring 39 surrounds the lower end of rod 31 in a manner to be compressed between a ball 40 on the end of the rod. and the bracket 38 when the treadle is moved downwardly so that the bracket 38 exerts a yielding action downwardly on the, rod 31. Between the frame I8 and a collar 4I on rod 31 a spring 42 is mounted normally tending to bias the rod 31 in an upward direction. The upper position of this rod together with the corresponding position of the bell crank levers 33 is indicated in dot-dash lines in Fig. 3. InY this position the side pressing portions or wings 3D of the bed are retracted from the corresponding coacting portions of the head. The actuated position of rod 31 after it has been moved downwardly is indicated in full lines in Figs. 2 and 3 and at this time the coacting side pressing portions of the head and bed are in engagement.

'The operation of the mechanism-is as follows: With the parts in the full line position of Fig. l, the operator completes the lay of the Work on the bed l2 and presses downwardly on treadle 28. The toggle mechanism moves toward straightened position until the parts reach the dot-dash position of Fig. 1 at which time the central portions of the pressing members are in engagement. Thereafter continued pressure on treadle 28 moves the toggle mechanism to the position of Fig. 2 which takes up the yieldable connection between shoulder 23 of toggle link I8 and the head lever while maintaining yielding pressure against the head lever by means of spring 22. This iinal movement of the treadle 2B exerts yielding pressure between bracket 38 and the ball 4B on the lower end of rod 31 and yieldingly exerts a downward pressure on rod 31 which moves the bell crank levers 33 to the full line position of Fig. 3, whereupon the press is completely closed. The treadle 28 is held in its operated position by the engagement of a pin 43 on the treadle engaging in a'notch 44 of a latching lever 45. At the close -ofl the pressing operation, depression of latching lever 45 releases the treadle 28 and a spring 46 Y connected between the frame andthe rear end of the head lever returns the parts to open position.

AWhat I claim is:

l. In a press or the class described, the com- 'Y bination of a pair of relatively movable coacting pressing members each having a central portion and depending side portions, the side portions of one of said members being movable relative to said central portion thereof, means for moving the Vcentral portions of said members into pressing engagement, means for moving said movable depending side portions of one member into pressing engagement with the side portions of the other member, and one actuator for both means.

2. In a press -of the class described, the combination of a pair of relatively movable elongated coacting pressing members each having a cennation of a pair of coacting relatively movable pressing members each having a central portion and depending side portions, the side portions of one of said members being movable angularly relative to said central portion thereof, means 5 including an actuator for moving the central portions of said members into pressing engagement, said means having 'a yielding connection providing additional movement of said actuator beyond the point necessary to engage said central portions, and means actuable upon said additional movement and operable to move said movable depending side portions of one member into pressing engagement with the side portions of the other member.

4. In a press of the class described, the combination of a pair of coacting relatively movable pressing members each having a central portion and depending side portions, the side portions of one of said members being movable angularly relative to said central portion thereof, means including an actuator for lmovingV the central 'portions -of said members into pressing engagement, said means having a yielding connection providing additional movement of said actuator beyondf" the point necessary to `engage said centralportions, and said means having an operative connection with said movable side portions actuable upon said additional movement of said actuator and operable to move saidmovable depending side portions of one member into pressing engagement with the side portions of the othermember.

5. Ina pressV of the class described,thercombi nation of a pressing head and bed, eachhaving a centralfportion and depending side portions, the side portions of said bed being movable laterally relative to the central portion thereof, means for moving said head to cause pressure engagement between the central portionsfof said head -and bed, meansfor-moving the side portions of said bed laterally into pressing engagement with the side portions of said head, and one actuator for both of said means. Y

6. In a press of the class described, the combi- 45 nation of a pressing head and bed, each having a central portion and depending sidel portions, the side portions of said bed -beingmovable laterally relative to the central portion thereof, means Y for moving said head to cause pressure engagement between the central portions of said head land. bed,` means for moving the side portions of said bed laterally into pressingengagement with the side portions of said head, one actuator for bothof said means, and said head moving means '55 including a guided resilient connection adapted to exert yielding pressure between said coacting central portions while saidactuator operates the side portion moving means.

7. In a press of the class described, the combination Vof a pressing head and bed, each having a central portion and depending side portions, the side portions of said bed being movable laterally relative to the central portion thereof, toggle` means movable toward straightened position fori causing pressure engagement between the central portions of said head and bed, means for so moving said toggle means, means for moving the side portions of said bed -laterally into pressing engagement with the side portions of said head, said toggle means having a guided resilient connection adapted to exert yielding pressure .be-Y tween said coacting central portions, and said toggle moving means having an additional movement adapted to take up on said resilient connection and to actuate said side portion moving means.

8. In a press of the class described, the combination of a frame, a head lever pivotally mounted thereon, a head member carried by the lever, a bed member on the frame, each of said members having a central portion and depending side portions, the side portions of said bed being movable laterally relative to the central portion thereof, toggle means having a yielding connection with the head lever and movable toward straightened position for causing pressure engagement between the central portions of said members, a treadle for so moving said toggle means, means for moving the side portions of said bed member laterally into pressing engagement With the side portions of said head member, and a connection between said treadle and said side portion moving means and adapted to actuate the latter When the treadle is moved to take up on said yielding connection between the toggle means and head lever.

GEORGE W. JOHNSON. 

